For insight into the United Arab Emirates' heritage and culture, here's a list of things to do in the city that cost less than five Emirati dirhams (US$1).

Dubai Museum

A traditional Arabic boat, one of the displays at the Dubai Museum. Cost: 3 dirhams

To find out how Dubai evolved from a key trader in pearl exports in the 1930s to a vital regional shipping hub in the 1960s, head to the Dubai Museum.

It's housed in the Al Fahidi Fort, which was constructed in 1787 and is the oldest existing structure in a city of perpetual expansion.

Visitors enter through the heavy wooden doors into an open sandy courtyard, the busy air above clouded by thousands of streak-throat swallows that nest in the coral rocks of the fort.

From the main courtyard you can explore the different rooms, which are crammed with exhibits on how Emiratis lived before coming into oil riches.

The Dubai Museum once also served as a prison. The dungeon has been converted into an Arabian culture showcase. Down the spiral staircase you can wander through exhibitions on pearling, metallurgy, bedouin life and fishing.

Abra ride

For a look at Dubai's traditional dhow trading vessels, which have been upgraded with diesel engines to function in the 21st Century, hop aboard a tiny abra to cross to the Deira side of the Dubai Creek.

The bustling northern bank has been alive for generations with the shouts of sea-traders as they load their cargo and swap stories following their return from Iran.

The abra is a small wooden vessel with an open canopy that seats about 20 people. Passengers jostle for space as the craft bobs across the creek, powered by a small outboard motor that sounds like a lawnmower.

Abras have been servicing Dubai for decades as the traditional way to ferry across the creek, offering a unique perspective of the city’s skyline.

Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum’s House

Established around 1894 as the seat of the Al Maktoum family, the home's owner has since moved into more luxurious digs. Cost: 2 dirhams

Once the royal residence of Dubai’s ruler, this traditional palace has been converted into a museum.

The house now showcases the city's transformation from a confusion of Bedouin huts along Dubai Creek into the sprawling leviathan that it is today.

Though redundant due to the modern miracle of air conditioning, ancient wind towers once used to cool the palace punctuate the top of the building, a testament to the ingenuity of Arab architecture.

Only hardcore philatelics should enter the stamp collection rooms and, unless you’re a diehard historian, the rooms with municipality records should also be given a miss.

A top draw, however, is the comprehensive photo archive of Dubai life pre-oil. Photos dating back to the early 20th century offer a fascinating glimpse into the private life of the ruling family.

Dubai Camel Museum

Where are the humps? Cost: Free

Hidden behind Sheikh Maktoum’s palace is one of the city's more offbeat attractions, the Dubai Camel Museum. This small house is a testament to the passion that Emiratis have for their beloved "ships of the desert."

Visitors get to learn about the medicinal role of camels in traditional society. For instance, camel urine can cure a volley of ailments ranging from ulcers to alopecia. Camel excrement cures nose bleeds and smallpox. Fat from the humps is believed to relieve haemorrhoid symptoms.

And then there's the aptly named “Camel -- The Body" section. One half of the room focuses on the inner workings of a camel’s digestive tract at a macro level. We’ll leave it up to you to guess where you exit.